Sefton

Sefton's population shrunk in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census show there were changes in average age, religion and housing tenure.

The population decreased

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Sefton fell by 3.2%, from almost 283,000 to 274,000.

The loss of just over 9,000 people means this area's population was the second-most rapidly-declining in the North West and was the second most rapidly-declining across England.

In 2011, Sefton was home to, on average, 13 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Sefton

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Sefton increased by four years, from 40 to 44 years.

This service economy area had a higher average age than the North West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,800 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 10,000.

About 11% of people in Sefton are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Sefton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

This area saw the North West's second-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

Across the region, only Knowsley saw a greater rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 13% to 14%).

During this period, Sefton overtook Wigan, Halton and St. Helens to become the North West local authority area with the second-highest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) households in Sefton had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 30% to 27%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Sefton

The number of people in Sefton that described themselves as Christian increased from about 240,000 in 2001 to about 210,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 84% to 77% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the North West (from 78% to 67%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Sefton that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 23,000 in 2001 to about 43,000 in 2011 (from 8.1% to 16%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 18,000 to about 17,000 (from 6.5% to 6.2%).

About 1,200 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 900 in 2001 (0.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Sefton decreased by 7.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Sefton by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Sefton that rented privately increased from 8.2% to 13% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in seven (14%) households lived in social housing, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage of Sefton households that owner their home decreased from 74% to 71%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Sefton increased by 5.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Sefton, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Sefton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11% to 7.3% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Sefton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Sefton decreased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Sefton, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links